ABCA4 is an N-retinylidene-phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylethanolamine importer

Faraz Quazi, Stepan Lenevich, Robert S. Molday

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

213 Scopus citations

Abstract

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters comprise a superfamily of proteins, which actively transport a variety of compounds across cell membranes. Mammalian and most eukaryotic ABC transporters function as exporters, flipping or extruding substrates from the cytoplasmic to the extracellular or lumen side of cell membranes. Prokaryotic ABC transporters function either as exporters or importers. Here we show that ABCA4, an ABC transporter found in retinal photoreceptor cells and associated with Stargardt macular degeneration, is a novel importer that actively flips N-retinylidene-phosphatidylethanolamine from the lumen to the cytoplasmic leaflet of disc membranes, thereby facilitating the removal of potentially toxic retinoid compounds from photoreceptors. ABCA4 also actively transports phosphatidylethanolamine in the same direction. Mutations known to cause Stargardt disease decrease N-retinylidene- phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylethanolamine transport activity of ABCA4. These studies provide the first direct evidence for a mammalian ABC transporter that functions as an importer and provide insight into mechanisms underlying substrate transport and the molecular basis of Stargardt disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number925
JournalNature communications
Volume3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants from NIH (EY002422) and CIHR/FFB (CIHR RMF-92101). F.Q. is supported by a NSERC graduate studentship. S.L. is supported on an Arthur and June Willms Postdoctoral Fellowship. R.S.M. is a Canada Research Chair in Vision and Macular Degeneration.

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